2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and 1 other first-order administrative division*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.9% (male 75,991; female 71,826) 15-64 years: 52.1% (male 87,734; female 84,150) 65 years and over: 3% (male 5,073; female 4,910) (2003 est.)

Area

land

300 sq km

total

300 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Background

The Maldives were long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. They became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago. Geography Maldives

Birth rate

36.71 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Capital

Male

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Coastline

644 km

Constitution

adopted January 1998

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Maldives

conventional short form

Maldives

local long form

Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa

local short form

Dhivehi Raajje

Death rate

7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs

Executive branch

chief of state

President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

Geographic coordinates

3 15 N, 73 00 E

Geography - note

1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean People Maldives

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 100 (2001 est.)

Independence

26 July 1965 (from UK)

Infant mortality rate

female

61.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

59.23 deaths/1,000 live births

total

60.13 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

3.33%

other

90% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

6.67%

Languages

Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials

Legal system

based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Life expectancy at birth

female

64.6 years (2003 est.)

male

62.07 years

total population

63.3 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97.3% (2003 est.) Government Maldives

male

97.1%

total population

97.2%

Location

Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

contiguous zone

24 NM

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

17.4 years (2002)

male

17.2 years

total

17.3 years

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Nationality

adjective

Maldivian

noun

Maldivian(s)

Natural hazards

low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise

Natural resources

fish

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

329,684 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

2.91% (2003 est.)

Religions

Sunni Muslim

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Terrain

flat, with white sandy beaches

Total fertility rate

5.26 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

Airports

5 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002) Military Maldives

Budget

expenditures

$282 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (2002 est.)

revenues

$224 million (excluding foreign grants)

Currency

rufiyaa (MVR)

Currency code

MVR

Debt - external

$281 million (2003 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there

Diplomatic representation in the US

Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York; permanent representative is Dr. Mohamed LATHEEF

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts for 20% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Almost 400,000 tourists visited the islands in 1998. Fishing is a second leading sector. The Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989 initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a lesser role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. Industry, which consists mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 18% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level.

Electricity - consumption

108.8 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

117 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Exchange rates

rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2002), 12.24 (2001), 11.77 (2000), 11.77 (1999), 11.77 (1998)

Exports

$110 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, clothing

Exports - partners

US 51.7%, Sri Lanka 16.2%, Thailand 9.3%, Japan 7.6%, UK 4.6% (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Maldives

Flag description

red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag Economy Maldives

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.25 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

20%

industry

18%

services

62% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.3% (2002 est.)

Highways

paved

NA km

total

NA km

unpaved

NA km

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$395 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners

Singapore 25.6%, Sri Lanka 15%, UAE 14.5%, India 6.6%, Malaysia 5.7%, Thailand 4% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

4.4% (1996 est.)

Industries

fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.mv

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

6,000 (2001) Transportation Maldives

Judicial branch

High Court

Labor force

88,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 42

elections

last held 20 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2004)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1 (2002 est.)

total

15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 42,689 GRT/56,132 DWT

Military branches

National Security Service

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$34.46 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

8.6% (FY02) Transnational Issues Maldives

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

78,025 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

43,386 (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

3,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

although political parties are not banned, none exist

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Population below poverty line

NA%

Ports and harbors

Gan, Male

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

35,000 (1999)

Railways

0 km

Telephone system

domestic

interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands are connected with telephone and fax service

general assessment

minimal domestic and international facilities

international

satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

21,000 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,290 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

10,000 (1999)

Unemployment rate

NEGL%

Waterways

none